This is the first photo ever captured of a Bornean Rajah scops owl (Otus brookii brookii), which hasn’t been seen in more than 125 years. 
The owl was last recorded in 1892 and disappeared until 2016, when a research team stumbled upon it and snapped a few photos.
The team's finding was confirmed by a study published in The Wilson Journal of Ornithology in April 2021. The encounter lasted two hours, and the subspecies of owl hasn’t been seen since.
Known for bright orange eyes and ear tufts, the owl is found in the Bornean forest in Sabah, Malaysia. Researchers think it could be so rare due to its low population density, but the lack of knowledge surrounding the bird’s habitat and call also makes it very difficult to find.
While similar to the Sumatran subspecies (Otus brookii solokensis) living an island over, this owl could be a separate species altogether, according to scientists.
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